The LA CAPE assistance dog project
Become a foster family for an assistance dog, be a link in the chain of resilience
Poppies & Daffodils, in partnership with LA CAPE (Assistance Dogs for People with Post-Traumatic Stress), is looking for volunteer foster families willing to host, socialise, and take part in the early training of young dogs that will one day become certified assistance dogs.
These dogs are trained to support the resilience of people deeply impacted by life: veterans, firefighters, police officers, first responders, victims of violence or terrorist attacks…
Offering a temporary home to one of these future companions means becoming part of a powerful human chain of healing, and actively contributing to a cause that still lacks visibility: mental health.
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LA CAPE : a concrete response to psychological suffering
As the first French organisation to train assistance dogs specifically for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), LA CAPE supports individuals who are often invisible, withdrawn, and carrying deep but silent wounds.
Taking public transport, doing the shopping, sleeping peacefully, going to an appointment — everyday actions that have become inaccessible without support.
The dogs trained by LA CAPE:
– help soothe anxiety attacks
– anticipate and reduce stress levels
– restore a sense of safety
– enable people to reconnect with the outside world
– rebuild trust and social connection
They are provided free of charge to recipients, and the entire programme is part of a long-term resilience journey, developed in close collaboration with healthcare professionals.
Resilience starts at home
We are looking for individuals who are:
– available on a daily basis to help train, walk, and socialise the dog,
– caring, emotionally stable, and sensitive to mental health challenges,
– ready to commit for several months, with patience and consistency.
Being a foster family means nurturing the resilience of a future assistance dog while living a powerful human and emotional experience.
You’ll be part of a meaningful mission — taking concrete action for a more compassionate society, one that cares for its most vulnerable members.
Who Can Become a Foster Family?
– Retirees looking to support a meaningful cause
– Students living away from home and ready to give their time
– Remote workers with flexible schedules
– Former teachers, military personnel, or first responders already familiar with these challenges
– Families committed to active citizenship and community involvement
Becoming a foster family also means embracing a life project — one that teaches values of solidarity, brings people closer together, and allows you to learn from the animal just as much as you help them grow.
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A commitment rooted in solidarity and humanity
Welcoming a CAPE Assistance Dog in Training Means:
– Becoming part of a collective resilience project
– Helping to rebuild a life marked by trauma
– Experiencing a unique bond with an animal that carries hope
It also means helping shift the way we look at psychological trauma — becoming an ambassador for empathy and inclusion.
Do you have time, love, and the desire to help in a different way?
Join us in this meaningful human adventure.
